Automatic telephone message accounting system



Dec. 25, 1951 J. w. DEHN ETAL AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTINGSYSTEM Filed Sept. 4, 1947 1E Sheets-Sheet l J. n. DE HN /NVEN/Qs. VROOMATTORNEV Dec. 25, 1951 J. w. DEHN ET AL. `2,579,729

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM a N g@ C g 3Q: EE n l\ 1 lW l VW g T :r i Y L MAI-III EE C i T /M/EA/rops: N y@ ATTORNEY Dec. 25,1951 J. w. DEHN ET AL AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTING SYSTEMFiled Sept. 4, 1947 13 Sheets-ShedI I5 kmq J. W. DE HN l/v VENTO/. ROOMATTORNEY J. W. DEHN ET AL AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTING SYSTEMFiled Sept. 4, 1947 Dec. 25, 1951 13 Sheets-Sheetl 4 E J. nf. DEHN E.moo/w /V VENT ORS ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 J. w. DEHN ET ALAUTOMATIOTELEPHQNE MESSAGE: ACCOUNTING SYSTEM Filed sept. '4, 1947 l5Sheets-Sheet 5 l Bykfw A 7' TORNA?" V Dec. 25, 1951 J. w. DEHN ET AL2,579,729

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 4, 1947 13Sheets-Sheet 6 J. W DEHN '5. VROOM 95m. mmvm k im @rum AT TOR/VE Y vay--Ill! llll lll "mh-W2 Dec. 25, 1951 J AUTOMATIC TEL J. W. DEHN /NV TS5.1/R0OM ATTORNE V J. W. DEHN ET AL AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGEACCOUNTING SYSTEM Dec. 25, 1951 Filed Sept. 4, 1947 1E Sheets-Sheet 8.J. W DE HN /A/I/ENTORS. E VRUM ATTORNEV Dec. 25, 1951 J. w. DEI-1N ETAL 2,579,729

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM Filed sept. 4, 1947 1ssheets-she@ 9 Q a Q k CARD PUNCH CARD PUNCH Il /NVENTORSJ' D HN BV VROQMATTRA/E Y v Dec. 25, 1951 J. w. DEHN ET AL 2,579,729

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 4, 1947 13Sheets-Sheet lO s" E. VROOM .9V

ATTO/w55 Dec. 25, 1951 J. w. DEHN ET A1. 2,579,729

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 J.w. DEHN ET AL 2,579,729

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 4, 1947 13Sheets-Sheet 12 A T TORNEV Dec. 25, 1951 .1. w. DEHN ET A1. 2,579,729

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM Filed sept. 4, 1947 13sheets-sheet 1s .J. WDEHN /A/l/ENTQE VROOM ATTORNE Y Patented Dec. 25,1951 AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MESSAGE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM Joseph W. Dehn, GreatNeck, and Edward Vroom, Ossining, N. Y., assignors to Bell TelephoneLaboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application September 4, 1947, Serial No.772,186

8 Claims.

This invention relates to telephone systems and more particularly toautomatic message accounting systems for telephone service.

The information required for billing telephone calls ordinarily includesfor each call, an indication of the subscriber to whom the call is to becharged, a record of the number called, from which the charges for thecall may be determined, the time of answerV ofthe called party, and thetime of termination of the connection. The number called can best -beobtained when the call is originated, while the time of answer and thetime of termination, cannot, of course. be recorded until those eventsoccur. Three separate record entries are, therefore, required for eachcall. To bill the subscribers, the three entries of each call must beassembled and, of course, the completed call records sorted inaccordance with the subscribers to whom the calls are to be charged. Insome systems, the entries are recorded seriatim, as received, on acontinuous record. Special devices must then be employed to assemble theentries and sort the call records by a series of transcriptions.

The present invention discloses an automatic message accounting systemfor telephone ofices in which a separate card, of a type commonly usedfor accounting purposes, is made for each entry of each call. Each cardcontains a record of the directory number of the calling line. Theseseparate cards may be sorted, by wellknown types of sorting machines, inaccordance with the directory number recorded in each and, therefore, inaccordance with the subscribers to whom the calls are chargeable. Thethree cards relating to each call are then readily assembled and thecomplete record for each subscriber is adapted to the use of well-knowntypes of billing machines for the production of the subscribers bills.

The features of the invention and its mode of operation will be apparentfrom the accompanying description, the appended claims, and thedrawings, in which:

Fig. l shows subscribers lines and a portion of the calling-lineidentifier circuit;

Fig. 2 shows another portion of the callingline identier circuit;

Fig. 3 shows so much of a district junctor cirfcuit as is necessary Vforan understanding of the Figs. 12 and 13 show the register switches ofthe sender; and

Fig. 14 shows how the above iigures should be placed in relation to oneanother to completely disclose the invention.

In the operationof the usual dial telephone system, when a subscriberoriginates a call by removing the receiver at his station, his line 1sextended by switching devices to a district junctor and is alsoconnected to a sender. The subscriberthen dials the number of thestation with which he desiresa connection and said number is registeredby Vregister switches in the sender. In Fig. 1, A represents asubscribers station and PLL and SLL are switches for extending the lineof said station when a call is originated vthereat. Fig. 3 showsportions of the circuit of the district junctor to which the line ofstation A is extended. Figs. 12 and 13 show the register switches of thesender which register the number dialed at station A.

In accordance with the present invention, when the number dialed bythecalling subscriber has been registered in the sender, the senderconnector circuit shown in Figs. 7 and l0 is actuated to put intooperation the card punch CPI of Fig. 9 and to connect to it conductorsfrom the register switches of the sender. Said card punch is therebycaused to perforate a card with perforations corresponding to the numberregistered by the register switches of the sender which is, of course,the number of thecalled station; A pulse from the pulsing circuit shownin Fig. 11 is also transmitted over the sleeve conductor of the line ofstation A which actuates gas tubes in the identier circuit-shownin-Figs. 1 and 2 to identify the calling line. Said gas tubesoperate the register relays of Fig. 5 in combinations corresponding tothe directory number of the calling line and the operated relays causethe card punch CPI to perforate the card with correspondingperforations. A time-oi-day circuit, indicated at T in Fig. 9 alsocauses the card punch CPI to perforate the card with a record of thecurrent time. By suitable means, the card punch CPI may also be causedto record other desired information on the card, and it is obvious'that,if a record of the called station is not required, it may be omitted. Asimilar card is made in the same way for each call, whether from stationA or from am otherj station.

When the called subscriber answers, the usual `answer signal causes thedistrict junctor connector circuit shown inl Figs. 4 and 8 to put intooperation card punch CP2 of Fig. 9. A pulse from the pulsing circuit ofFig-11 is also transmitted Vover the sleeve conductor of the line ofstation A which actuates gas `tubes in the identifier circuits toidentify the calling line, as before. Corresponding relaysof theregister relays shown in Y rent time.

Fig. 6 are thereby operated'to causethecard punch C192v to perforate acard with' a record of the number of the calling line. Said card punchis also controlled by the time-of-day circuit T to perforate the cardwith a record oflthe .time of answer. Other information may, ifdesirable, be similarly recorded on the card bysuitable means. A similarcard is made in the same way for each call answered.

When the connection is terminated, the usual disconnect signal causesthe district junctor connector circuit to put card punch CP2 again intooperation for the perforating, in the mannerdefV scribed above, ofanother card with a disconnect record similarto the answer record andcontain ing the number ofthe calling line and jthe time of terminationof the connection. Other 'information may also be recorded on lthe'cardby any suitable means. same way for each terminated connection.

The card punches CPI and CP2 employed in thepresent embodiment ofthe'invention are ma chines of well-known:V type in" Whichthe ground-While it isl desirable to connect the elements of tubes N l, N2, N3and'N4 to the bus-bars in accordance with the directory numbers of thelines with which they are associated so that said directory numbers willbe indicated and later recorded, Vit is obvious that said tubes may beconnected, if desired, in, accordance withY any other A similarcardisVmade inthe ingV of combinations 'of conductorscauses the per.-

foration of acard with a corresponding record. A commerciallyavailablemachinehas a capacity of eighty perforations inV each oftwelve'lines .which is ample to record the information required in connectionwith telephone calls.V Reference may be had to the patent tol T. L.Dowey etal. No. 2,263,291; dated November 18,1941, for amore completedescription ofra machineof 'this kind.

The time-'of-dayn circuit,l indicated but not shown in Fig. 9,is'awell-known circuit forV con trolling a recording devicebygroundingcombinations of conductors in accordance vwith the cur- Reference may-behad 'to the/patent to F. E. Blount No. 355,903, issuedl August 15, 1944,for V'a descriptionof aA device of Ythis kind.

As a part of each recording'operation, the calling line is identiedbythecircuitsof Figs. 1 and v2. To accomplish this identification; the sleeveconductor ofr each lineswhich vit may be necessary to identify,is'connected toone'element'of each of two 4diodegas tubes.v conductor"of the line 'of 'station A i's-connected to one element of`each` ofVgas'tubes 'NI and N2 and the sleeve conductor of theli'ne-of stationBis connected to one element of eachof 'gas tubes N3 and N4.

to one of the commonl conductors or bus-bars THI-I THHSS'in accordancewith the thousands and hundreds digits of the directory number of theline. For example; the directory numberrof the line of stationA isassumedto be 1234. The'other'elementofftube NI is theren foreconnectedto bus-bar THHV`I2'in accordance with`the thousands-andhundreds digits 12""of said directory number. The directory number ofthe line of station B is assumed to be"5678; The other element ofv'tube-NS'is therefore connected to buseb'ar THH56" in accordancewith'the `thou-- number 'of the line of station A and the otherelementof tube.' N4 is connectedV to,bus.b'ar1TU'i8 in accordance with"thedigits"78 of the directory number of the line of station B.'

Forexample; the Asleeve i The other element of one of the gas I tubesthus associated with each line is connected vof tube NB is connected tobus-bar H2 .numbers assigned as designations of the lines.

Each of the bus-bars THHQB THH99 is connected to one element of each oftwo diode gas tubes, such as tubes N5 and NS. The other element of oneYof said tubes, for example, tube N5 is connected to one of the bus-barsTHE) THS in accordance with the associated thousands digit. Thus, the`other element of tube N5 islconconnected to one of the bus-bars T0 T9 inaccordance with the associated tens digit. Thus, the other element oftube N1 is connected to busebars T3l in accordance with the tens digit3. The other element of the other of said tubes is connected to one ofthe bus-bars Uil U9 in accordance with the associated units digit. Thus,the other element of tube N8 is connected to busbar U4 inaccordance'with the units digit "4.

Each of said bus-bars is'supplied with negativeY potential through aresistance, such as resistance RI for bus-bar THiS-IDB; but`saidpotential is insuiiicient to cause any of said gas tubes to'conductunless positive potential is also supplied to said tubes to createsuincient-potential difference between the two elements of the tubes.

With each ofthe bus-bars THil. THS,H0...H9,T...TS,andUG...Ullisassociated two indicating circuitseachccmprising two'triode ,gas tubes; For example, one indicatingcircuit comprising tubes THAI and THBI and another indicatingv circuit`comprising tubes THC! and'THDi. are associated with bus-bar THI overconductor 63. The anodes of all the first tubes THAI, HA2, TAS, UAli,etc. oi the first indicating circuits are connected over conductor 50 tothe cathode oi `the pulsing tube P! and the Aanodes of all the rst tubesTHCI, HG2, TG3,

U04, etc. of the second indicating circuits are Vconnected overconductor 5l to the cathode of the pulsing tube P2.

The starting element of eachA ofthe first tubes of each indicatingcircuit, for example'tube THAI, is biased by positive battery throughresisltances R2 and; R3, but said' bias is not'suiiicient to cause saidtube tdconductpeven if the anode of said tubesf'suppledivh positive-lpotential, unless the-startingfelernent is mademore positive. Theanodeof each of the second tubes of each indicating circuit,.V for exampletube THB! is supplied with positive potential directly, whilethe'cathode is supplied with negative potential through the windingofrrelay ATH!Y and conductor 52.V The potential difference'between theanode and cathode-oi saicltube isfsuflicient to maintain conductioninVsaid tube. ,butinsui cient toV initiate conduction.. The ,starting.element' of said 'tube is positively biased by poten-k :5 tial from thevoltage divider composed of resistances R4 and R5 but said bias isinsulcient to initiate conduction in said tube.

The anodes of the pulsing tubes PI and P2 are supplied with alternatingpotential from `the source PS but `the grids of said tubes are biased bynegative battery through resistances R6 and R1, respectively, so thatsaid tubes do not normally conduct. However, the potentials of the gridsof said tubes are momentarily and repeat edly raised, by any suitablemeans, so that each of said tubes momentarily and repeatedly conducts.Reference may be had to the Patent No. 2,484,612, dated October 11,1949, for a description of a suitable means for actuating said pulsingtubes.

For a clear understanding of the invention, the operation of thecircuits in recording information in connection with a call from stationA will now be described. It will be assumed that the directory number ofthe line of sta tion A is 1234 and that the number dialed at saidstation is 1234561 When the receiver is removed at station A, theprimary line-link switch PLL and the secondary line-link switch VSLLoperate in the usual manner, extending the conductors of the line ofstation A to the district junctor of Fig. 3. Relay S operates over acirn cuit extending from battery through the lower winding of saidrelay, conductor 55, No. 2 contacts of secondary line-link switch SLL,No. 2 contacts of primary line-link switch PLL, switchn hook contacts ofstation A, No. I contacts of primary line-link switch PLL, No; Icontacts of secondary line-link switch SLL, conductor 5t, and

switch RB, the No. 3 contacts of register switch RC,rthe No. 4 contactsof register switch RTH, the No. 5 contacts of register switch RH, theNo. B' contacts of register switch RT, and the No. 1 contacts ofregister switch RU are thereby closed. Upon completion of saidregistration, when relay STL of the sender (shown, for convenience, inFig. 7) operates in the usual manner, a circuit is completed frombattery through thecont-act's'of relay AI, upper winding of relay PSI,No. 2 contacts of relay AST, and No.2 contacts of rela-y STL to ground,over which relay PSI operates. Relay PSI is associated with a group offive senders comprising the sender, parts of which are shown in Figs. 12and 13. Relays PS2 PS5 are associated with other groups of senders.Relay AI then operates over a circuit extending from battery through thewinding of said relay, No. 2| front contacts and winding of relay PS I,No. 2 contacts of relay AST, and No.

2 contacts of relay STL to ground. The contacts of relay AI removeoperating battery from relays PS2 PS5. Relay SSI operates over a circuit extending from battery through the contacts of relay A2, upperwinding of relay SSI, conductor 51, No. I contacts of relay PSI, No. Icontcats of relay AST, and No. 2 contacts of relay STL to ground. RelaySSI is associated with the sender, portions of which are shown. `RelaysSS2 SSS are associated with the other send *y* ers of the same group.Relay A2 then operates over a circuit extending from battery through thewinding of said relay, No. 4 front contacts and lower winding of relaySSI to the abovetraced ground on conductor 51. The contacts of relay A2remove operating battery from relays SS2 SSS.

By the operation of relay SSI, conductor 58 to the card punch CPI isgrounded through No. contacts of said relay, starting the operatingmechanism of said card punch to perforate a card. When pulsing tube Plnow momentarily conducts, positive potential is supplied from thecathode of said tube over conductor 50 to the anodes of tubes THAI, HA2,TA3, UAII, etc. and positive potential is also supplied from thejunction of resistances R9 and RI 0 over conductor 60, No. 3 contacts ofrelay SSI, conductor 6I, No. 5 contacts of relay PSI, No. I contacts ofrelay STL, conductor 62, No. 3 contacts of secondary line-link switchSLL, and No. 3 contacts of primary line-link switch PLL to one ele mentof each of the tubes NI, N2, causing said tubes to conduct. By theconduction of tube NI, the potential of bus-bar THHIZ is raised so thattubes N5 and N5 conduct. By the conduction of tube N5, the potential ofbus-bar TH! and conductor 63 is suddenly raised and a positive pulse isproduced from condenser CI through resistance RII to the startingelement of tube THCI. Said potential, however, has no material effectsince the anode of said tube is not supplied with potential. However, apositive pulse is also produced from condenser C2 through resistance R2to the starting element of tube THAI and, the anode of said tube beingsupplied with positive potential, as described above, said tube conductssaid anode potential through the anodecathode space of said tube andresistance RIZ to ground. The potential of the cathode of said tube isthereby suddenly raised and a positive pulse produced from condenser C3to the starting element of tube THBI, which thereupon conducts over acircuit extending from positive battery through the anode-cathode spaceof said tube, conductor 52, lower normal contacts and winding of relayATHI to negative battery, operating relay ATI-II, which locks up throughits lower front contacts and conductor B5 to ground in card punch CPI.The opening of the lower normal contacts of relay ATI-II removespotential from the cathode of tube THBI which thereupon ceases toconduct.

By the conduction of tube No, tubes HAZ and HB2 are similarly actuatedand relay AH2 operated and locked up. v In a similar manner, by theconduction of tubes N2, N1 and N8, tubes TA3, TBS, UA4, and U34 areactuated and relays ATS and AUA operated and locked up. By the operationof relays ATHI, A112, ATll and AUA, conductors 66, 61, 63 and 69 to cardpunch. CPI are grounded through No. I contacts of said relays, operatingcorresponding punch selectors in said card punch to perforate (the cardwith ancor responding record of the number` 1234, which is the directorynumber of the line of station A.

By the operation of relays PSI and SSI, a circuit is completed frombattery through the Winding of relay MC, conductor 10, No. 2U con tactsof relay PSI, conductor 1I, and No. 2 contacts of relay SSI to ground,over which relay MC operates, connecting conductors from the registerswitches of the sender to card punch CPI. Conductors 13,14, 15,715, 11,18, and 19 corresponding to the number -1234567 dialed at "si,:sverigefstati'on Af,'1.arethereby. grounded through closed contacts of` theregister switches, causing the card' punch CPI to perforate the cardWith a corresponding record.

Other conductors, grounded at the moment by thetime-of-clay circuit T,cause the card punch CPI to perforate in the card a record ofthe currenttime.V

When the card punch CPI has completed its cycleof operationsinperforating the card, it removes ground, by any suitable means, fromconductor S5, opening the locking circuits of and releasing relays ATHI,AH2, ATS and AUi, and grounds` conductor 89. Relay AST'then operatesover a circuit extending from battery through the winding'and No. 3normal contacts of said relay, No. IS contacts of relay PSI, conductorSI, No. I contacts of relay SSI, and conductor Sil to saidv ground,and'locks up through its No. 3 front contacts andNo. 2 contacts ofrelay' STL to ground. The operating circuits ci relays PSi, AlI, SSI andA2 4are thereby opened 'and said relays released. Relays AI and A2 aremade slow to release to ensure Vthat operating battery is not restoredto the relays PS! SSI SS untill relays PSI and SSi have released. By therelease of relays PSI and'SSI the circuit of relay MC is opened and saidrelay released'. By the release of relay SS! ground is removedfrornconductor 58 to card punch CPS. arresting the operationV of saidcard punch which i's'lnow ncondition to perforate another card.

lRelays Si, CS,l CH, ST and are the relays ordinarily provided inthe'district junctor circuit and operate in the' usual manner. When thecalled subscriber answers and the charge 'relay CH operates, a rcircuitis completed from battery through .the Winding of relay PST, No. i'backcontacts of-relay ANS, and No. 3 contacts of relay CH to ground overwhich relay PST operates. Relay PDB associated with a group Vof districtjunctors' of which the junctor used by station A is one, then operatesover a 'circuit extending from battery through contacts of relay A3,upper Winding of .relay PDI), conductor S2, and contacts of relay PST toground. Relay A3 operatesY overl a circuit extending from batterythrough the Winding of said relay, lower winding of relay PDQ, conductor82, and contacts of relay PST to ground, its contacts removing operatingbattery from relays PDI PDS associated with other groups of districtjunctors. Acircuit is thereby completed from battery through contacts ofrelay A4, upper winding of relay SDil, conductor 83, No II) contacts ofrelay PDEB, con.- ductor'l, and contacts of relay PSTVto ground, overwhich Vrelay SDD operates. Relay Ail operates over a circuit extendingfrom battery through the winding of said relay, No. 3 front vcontactsand lower windingl of relay SDD, to the above-traced groundon conductor83, the contactsv of relay A4 removing operating battery from-relaysVSDI SDS associated with other district junctors of the group. Byth'e'operation Aof relay SDU, conductor 85 tocard punch CP2 is groundedthrough No. 4 contacts of said relay,

Ystarting the mechanism of said card punch.

Y, When pulsing tube P2 now conducts, supplying, from its cathode,positive potential to the anodes of tubes THCI, HG2, TCB, U04, etc.,positive PS5 and PLL'is'also'supplied to Vtubes NI andi N2, causing saidtubes to conduct. This actuates THCI, THDI, HG2, HD2, TG3, TDS, UCA andUD in the manner previously described for tubes THAI, THBI, HA2, HB2,TAS, TB3, UAA and HB4 and, in turn, relays BTHI, BH2, BTS andBUIl areoperated. Tubes THAI, HAZ, TAB, and UA4 are not now affected by thepositive pulse applied rto their starting elements, since their anodesare not supplied with potential.

Relays BTHI, BH2, BTS, and BU lock up through their No. I contacts andconductor 88 within bracket 89 Vto ground in card punch CP2. The No. 2contacts of said-relays ground conductors 90, 9|, .92 and'93,corresponding to the number 1234, to card punch CP2 causing said cardpunch to perforate a card with a correspondingv record. The number thusrecorded is the directory number of the line of station A. Theconductorsto card punch CP2, grounded at the moment by the time-of-daycircuit T, also causesaid card punch to perforate the card with a recordof the time of answer of the called subscriber.

When the card punchCPZ has completed its operations of perforating acard, it removes ground by any suitable means from conductor 8S,releasing relays BTHI, BH2, BTS, and BU4, and grounds conductor 95.Relay RE then operates over a circuit extending from battery through thewinding of said relay, conductor 96, No. 2s contacts of relay PDD,conductor V91, No. I contacts of relay SDI), and conductor 95 to saidground in card punch CP2. Relay ANS operates over a circuit extendingfroml battery through the winding and No. 3 normal contactsV of saidrelay, No. l back contacts of relay AUX, and front contacts 0f relay REto ground, andlocks up through its No. 3 front contacts and No. 3contacts of relay CH to ground, its No. I back contacts opening thecircuit of and releasing relay PST. The circuits of relays PDEI,`A3,SDil and A4 are thereby opened and saidrelays released. Relays A3 and A4are made slow to release forlth'e same purpose as described in.connection with relays AI and A2. By the release of relay SDS, ground isremoved from conductor to card punch. CP2, arresting the operation ofsaid card punch, and the circuit of relayRE is opened, releasing saidrelay. Relay AUX now operates over a circuit extending from batterythrough the Winding and No. 2 normal contactsof said relay,.No. 2contacts of relay ANS, and back contacts of relay RE to ground, andlocks up'through its No. 2 front contacts and No.' 3 contacts ofvrelayCH to ground.

When the calling subscriber replaces the receiver at station A at thetermination of the conversation, the circuit of rrelay S is therebyopened and'said relay released. Relay SI being released at this time,relay PST reoperates over a circuit extending from battery through thewinding of said relay, No. I front contacts of relay ANS, No. I contactsof relay TER, No. 2 contacts of relay CH, No. 2 contacts of relay SI,and contacts oi relay S toiground, resulting in arepetition of theYovera circuit Vextendin'g'from battery through the winding and No. 2normal contacts of said relay,

N' 'infront cotacts of 'relay'.AT-TX, andfront 'conl tubes Y tacts ofrelay RE- to ground and locks up through its No. 2 front contacts andNo. 3 contacts of relay CH to ground. The No. i contacts of relay TERopen the circuit of and release relay PST which releases relays PD, A3,SDU and A4, thereby arresting the operation of the card punch CP2, andopening the circuit of and releasing relay RE. When relay CH releases,the locking circuits oi relays ANS, AUX, and TER are thereby opened andsaid relays released.

For the call made by station A, three cards are thus made, the rstcontaining a record of the directory number of the calling line, thenumber of the called station, and the time, and the other two eachcontaining the directory number of the calling line and the time. Thesecards contain the essential information required for billing the chargesfor the call and may always be associated by reference to the directorynumber of the calling line contained in each and the record of the timewhen each was made. It will be understood that calls from otherstations, such as station B, and calls made in connection with otherdistrict j'unctors and other senders not shown are similarly recorded.

While it is convenient to employ two card punches CPI and CP2 in orderthat a card relating to the initiation of a call may be made at the sametime as another card relating to the answer or disconnection of anothercall, it is obvious that one card punch, for example card punch CPI, mayperform these functions successively, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telephone system adapted for the automatic production of aplurality of cards for each completed telephone connection, incombination with a calling line having a distinguishing designation, acalled line, and means for establishing a talking connectiontherebetween, means responsive to the establishment and theterminationvof said talking connection, means responsive to saidlast-mentioned means for making a plurality of cards therefor, saidmeans comprising means for applying impulses to said calling line,electronic devices responsive to said impulses for determining thedesignation of said line, recording means, and means responsive to theoperation of said electronic devices for controlling said recordingmeans, thereby to record said designation in each of said cards.

2. In a telephone system adapted for the automatic production of aplurality of cards for each completed telephone connection, incombination with calling lines each having a distinguishing designationand called lines, means responsive t the establishment and thetermination of a talkconnection between any one of said calling linesand one of said called lines, means responsive to said last-mentionedmeans for making a plurality of cards for said connection, said meanscomprising gas-discharge devices individual to said calling line, othergas-discharge devices common to all of said calling lines, recordingmeans, means for applying an impulse to said calling line whereby thegas-discharge devices individual thereto and certain of said commongasdischarge devices are actuated to determine the designation of saidcalling line, and means responsive to said actuated common gas-dischargedevices for controlling said recording means, thereby to record thedesignation of said calling line in each of said cards.

3. In a, telephone system adapted for the automatic production of aplurality of cards for each completed telephone connection, incombination with calling lines, each having an individual designationcomposed of digits, called lines, and

means for establishing talking connections between calling lines andcalled lines, means responsive to the establishment and the terminationof a talking connection betweenany one of said calling lines and one ofsaid called lines means responsive to said last-mentioned means formaking a plurality of cards for said connection, said means comprisingrst gas-discharge` devices individual to said calling line, secondgasdscharge devices common to all of said calling lines, thirdgas-discharge devices for each of said digits, means for applyingimpulses to said calling line whereby said first gas-discharge devicesand certain oi said second and third gas-discharge devices are actuatedto determine each of the digits of the designation of said calling line,recording means, and means responsive to said actuated thirdgas-discharge devices for controlling said recording means, thereby torecord the designation of said calling line in each of said cards.

4. In a telephone system adapted for the automatic production of aplurality of cards for each completed telephone connection, incombination with a calling line having an individual designation, acalled line, and means for establishing a talking connection betweensaid calling line and said called line, means responsive to theinitiation, the establishment and the termination of said talkingconnection, means responsive to said last-mentioned means for making a,plurality ci cards for said talking connection, said talking meanscomprising means for applying impulses to said calling line upon theinitiation, upon the establishment, and upon the termination oiisaidtalking connection, gas-discharge devices responsive to said impulsesfor determining the designation oi said calling line, recording means,and means responsive to said actuated gas-discharge devices forcontrolling said recording means, thereby to record said calling linedesisnation in each of said cards.

5. In a telephone systemjadapted for the automatic production of aplurality of cards for each completed telephone connection, incombination with calling lines each havinga distinguishing designationcomposed of digits, called lines, and means for establishing talkingconnections between calling lines and called lines, means responsive tothe initiation, the establishment, and the termination of a talkingconnection between any one of said calling lines and one of said calledlines, means responsive to said last-mentioned means for making aplurality of cards for said connection, said means comprising means forapplying impulses to said calling line upon the initiation, theestablishment and the termination of said connection, rst gas-dischargedevices individual to said calling line and responsive to said impulses,second gas-discharge devices common to all of said calling lines andresponsive to said first gas-discharge devices, third gas-dischargedevices for each of said digits responsive to said second gas-dischargedevices `for determining the digits of the designation of said callingline, recording means, and means responsive to said actuated thirdgas-discharge devices for controlling said recording means, thereby torecord said calling line designation in each o f said cards.

6. In a telephone system, in combination with a calling line having a.directory number, a called Iinameansv for-extending said calling linetosaid called line, means individual -to said calling line operative insuccessionoversaid calling .line eX- tension upon thepartialvestablishment of said connection, upon the answer `of saidcalled line and upon the restoration-oi said calling line, meansresponsive to eachoperation of said lastmentioned means Afor*registering the directory number of said calling line, means forindicatingtime, a rst recording means,means eiective on the partialestablishment of said connection for connecting said registering meansand said time-indicating means to said first recording means, therebytor-cause the operation of `said rstrecording means to record on a firstcard the directorynumber ofsaidcalling line and current time,a-s'econdrecordingmeans, means operative in response to-said i called linewhenV`answering saidconnection for connecting said registering means and saidtime indicating means to said second recording means, thereby to-causethe operation of said-second recording --means to record on a secondcardthe directory number of said calling line and the time when saidconi nection was answered, andmeans effective on the restoration of saidcalling line for'again connecting said registering means and said timeindicating -meansto said second recording means, thereby to cause theYoperation of `said second recording meansto record-on athird card thedirectory number of said calling line and the time when said connectionisfterminated. y

` 7.y In a telephone-system, in combination with a calling line-andacalled line, each of said lines having a distinguishing designation,means for extending said calling line torsaid called line', meansindividual to said calling -lineoperative in succession over saidcalling line extension upon the partial establishment of vsaidconnection, upon`A the answer of said called line and upon therestoration of said calling line, -means .responsive to'ea'ch operationof said last-mentioned means for registeringhthedistinguishingdesignation of `said calling line, mea-ns responsive to impulsestransmitted vffrom Said calling line indicative of the-distinguishingdesignation of said called line, rmeans responsive tosaid lastprisingcharacters indicating the oilice in which the line terminates and adirectory number, means for extending said calling line to said calledline, means individualtosaid calling line operative in succession oversaid `calling line extension upon the partial establishment of Saidconnection, upon the answer of'said called line and upon the restorationof said calling line, means responsiveto each operation of saidlastmentioned means for registering the directory number of said callingline, means responsive to impulses transmitted from said calling lineindicative of the cnice and directory number'of said called line, meansresponsive to the operation of said last-mentioned means for registeringthe oiiice and directory number of said called line, means forindicating time, a iirst recording means, means effective upon thepartial establishment of said connection for connecting said callingline registering means, said called line registering means and said timeindicating means to saidrst recording means, thereby to cause theoperation ofv said iirst recording means to record on a iirst cardthedirectcry number of said calling line, theoiceand directory number ofsaid called line and the indication of current time, a second recordingmeans, means operative in response to said called line whenansweringsaid connection forconnecting said calling line registering means andsaidlti-me indicatingmeans to said second recording means, thereby tocause tive Iupon ther-partialestablishment of saidrconnectionY forconnecting-'said calling lineregister-1 ing means, said called-lineregistering means and,

said time indicating :means to-said 1iirst recording means, thereby-tocausethe-operation of said first recording means to record on a firstcard the designation of said vcalling line, thedesignation of saidcalled line and the indication of current time,a second recording means,meansY operative in response to said calledl line -when answering saidconnection for connecting said calling line registering Vmeans and saidtime indicating means to said second recording-means, thereby to causethe'operation of said second recording means to record on a second cardthe designation of said calling lineand the time when said connectionwas answered, and means effective on the restoration of said callingline to release said connection for again connecting said calling lineregistering means and said time indicating means to said secondrecording means, thereby to cause the operation of said second recordingmeans to the operation of said second recording means to record on asecond card-the designation of-said calling line and the time when lsaidconnection was answered, and means effective onthe restorationofsaidrcalling line to release said cennection for again connectingysaid calling line registering means andsaid timeindicating- Y means tosaid second recording means, thereby to cause the operation of saidAsecondtrecording means toV record on a thirdV card the Adirectorynumberof said calling line and the time when Ysaid connection isterminated.

JOSEPH -W. DEHN. EDWARD VROOM.

l v REFERENCES CITED Y The following,references are or" record in the:die of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,927,556 Nelson Sept. 19, 19331,943,130 McPherson Jan. 9, 1934 2,165,924 ,Goodrum July 11, i9392,252,766 Holden Aug. 19, 1941 2,270,246 Bascom et al. Jan. 20, 1942,2,272,311 rSigo Feb. 1,0, 1942 2,272,475 Ostline Feb. V10, 19422,273,165 Wright Feb. 17, 1942 2,297,365 'Ostline Sept. 29, 19422,306,729 Holden Dec. 29, 1942 21,351,551 Seibel June 13, 1944 2,369,868VTaylor et al Feb. 20, 1945 2,373,908 Ostline Apr. 17, 1945

